[Fantasy Suites] [Katniss and Joshua]

[the_effect_she_has]

Who: Katniss and Joshua
What: Waking up abruptly on Valentine's Day
When: 02/14
Where: Joshua's ...ah, room.
Rating: PG-13



It wasn't that it was hard to get her out of bed - in fact it was all too easy. She slept lightly, and badly. Nightmares plagued her - from the Games, from the wars - melding into nightmares from her childhood and now, from some situations here.

The only time she had ever slept well after the Games was when she had slept with Peeta, her head buried into his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

So she should have realized something was wrong when she started to wake peacefully, one arm wrapped around someone's waist. There was warmth, and a heartbeat, and she whispered, "Peeta..." before she remembered.

Before she woke up screaming, pushing herself away, and then screaming again as she looked around because where the hell was she and who was this and why was he blonde?!

Comments

[ofhope]

He wonders if he should be taking notes, both on what she's saying and what he's observing. So far he's figured that they're supposed to be in India, or something close. As for what she's talking about, he retains perhaps only half of what she's saying.

"Hmmm, writing about your past might make it more interesting. You should write that while here."

Joshua turns to look at her again, his smile half-cocked like he's still thinking about something else. Or dreaming about something, even while still awake.

"Paradisa could always use more records of people's worlds in the library, and I could always use something new to read. ...What's a mockingjay?"

[the_effect_she_has]

"What, in this room? Or here, as in Paradisa?" She snorted softly, before she pressed his lips together. It wasn't a bad idea, truth be told. She had all the time in the world to write about it and perhaps ... perhaps it was time. To let go of the ghosts of the past.

She blinked at him, concentrating back on the conversation. "It's a genetic mutation - between a mockingbird and a bluejay. They can perfectly remember anything being said to them, and sing it back. I got the name because ... I had the pin. A long time ago."

[ofhope]

He doesn't really mean in this presumably locked room, but if that's something to pass the time...why not. He's certainly not her caretaker, though he's not opposed to polite conversation. It's better than fighting.

Sometimes.

"Science. It has it's miracles, I suppose. Nothing like that could be done in my time."

[the_effect_she_has]

She looked over at him, her eyes going from wary to faintly curious. She took another bite of her apple, chewed, then asked frankly. "What about you? What's your story? I don't mind history."

In fact, sometimes she preferred it. Something bleak to be compared to.

[ofhope]

"Then read a history book."

It's a short answer, though not offered with much or any real venom. He could be serious, he could be joking, but it's rarely easy to know which, even if he wasn't turned away.

Joshua continues, though, before one can wonder for too long. "I'm not a story. I've been here a long time, that's all."

[the_effect_she_has]

Well, that finished that conversation. Katniss eyed Joshua, then shrugged as she simply switched to total apathy. She was going to feel the edge of being unbalanced now - and wondered if he was going to use it against her.

Probably, and she took another bite of her apple. "All right. So you're here. Been here." In other words, consider it dropped.